When we lived on Fifth Street, I took care of several sweet children. I guess our small apartment was a daycare, except it was more like a birthday party every day!

Two of the children lived right across the street. Todd became one of Scott's best friends. They never did anything wrong. I bet your children didn't either.

When an elderly neighbor lady phoned one day to tell me that they were cutting down her newly planted tree with a knife, I was really taken aback.

“No, it must be someone else," I said.

After all, this lady was very old and probably didn't see too well, and maybe was senile. Otherwise, she would never have thought that two cute little four-year-old boys could be trying to cut down her tree.

But, it was possible that no one had told them that it was wrong to do. I needed to sit down and have the conversation.
"We have to talk, so, listen very carefully; this is hard for me to do, and I'm only explaining it once."

I told the story how a tree is planted. Roots firmly in the ground, water often, fertilize, and it will live for many years.

Both of the boys sat listening with wide eyes, opened their little fingers, and handed me the table knife.

The sapling survived and has long ago, grown into a big, beautiful tree.